McBride Displays All Right Moves

Brian McBride and Kasey Keller moved up two career lists and led the United States into the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals.

McBride’s two goals lifted him into third in scoring in U.S. history, and Keller tied a team record with his 32nd shutout in a 2-0 victory over Martinique on Monday at Gillette Stadium.

Steve Ralston assisted on both goals.

McBride scored twice in four minutes to raise his total to 23 goals in international play, breaking a tie with Bruce Murray. Only Eric Wynalda (34 goals) and Joe-Max Moore (31) have more.

Keller faced only a handful of shots, none in the first half, en route to matching Tony Meola’s shutout mark. Keller, who starts for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, recorded the 31st shutout of his career Saturday in a 2-0 victory over El Salvador.

The victory means the defending champion United States won Group C. The Americans will next play Cuba, Canada or Costa Rica.

McBride opened the scoring for the United States in the 39th minute, heading Ralston’s cross into the left corner of the net.

Four minutes later, the pair teamed again, with Ralston taking a long cross on the right side of the goal and tapping it to McBride in the middle. The Columbus Crew forward slammed the ball in from about five yards.

“I cross the ball, and he’s such a presence in there,” Ralston said.

Said U.S. Coach Bruce Arena: “Obviously, Brian McBride was the star of the match.”

McBride has three goals in two Gold Cup matches. He led the competition last year with four goals.

The play intensified in the second half, with pushing from both sides. The Americans dictated the pace, but Martinique mounted a few counterattacks.

Martinique’s Yann Girier-Dufournier was ejected with a minute left, and the teams combined for 28 fouls.

“We’re all big boys. We need to concentrate on playing soccer,” said McBride, adding it was important not to lose their composure.

The best chance for Martinique came in the 56th minute, but Keller came off his line and easily stopped a breakaway opportunity by Jose Gordon.

“We were a bit sloppy in the second half, I think due to the physicality of the game, a lack of sharpness and a little bit of fatigue,” Arena said. “We’ve been through this before, and the objective is just to get through to the next round.

“We are just happy to be in a position to be playing on Saturday in the quarterfinals.”